Something I forgot to add... and several collectors feel the same.
Here, I hope to offend the dealers a bit, and hope they'll change...
when you enter thoses french shops, you don't feel welcome.
If you don't look like someone that is about to spend couple grands, or you are not an already good and wealthy customer, they have no interest in you, and show it. The nastiest answer I ever had from the one in the louvres, 10years ago or so, was "i don't have anything that would suit you" when I asked about the price of a sword in their window, since nothing had a price tag at that time. was it too hard to say 1000, 2000, even 10000 and i would have say "thank you"...
In USA, in Japan, and I'm sure in UK, I talked to several dealers, entered several shops, and have always been welcome. Best ! In Tokyo, the owner of Japan Swords show me the entire collection for more than 20 minutes, and I didn't buy anything ! I just came to ask if he can rewrap a tsuka.
So, I'll keep buying in USA, UK and Japan, and ignore local market, as most of my collector buddies do.